LIFEGUARD volunteers were on high alert today after floods hit Old Leigh.
Chalkwell beach was submerged in water this afternoon as the Chalkwell Lifeguards Club volunteers were put on notice due to a storm surge tide.
The volunteers were on emergency flood alert standby from 2pm on Thursday 19 November.
The group say flooding was made worse by the closure of the Thames Flood Barrier.
Fortunately, calm weather meant the flooding was less dangerous than otherwise.
A spokesman for the Chalkwell Lifeguards Club said: "Chalkwell Lifeguards Club Volunteers were on emergency flood alert standby at 2pm on Thursday 19 November for an exceptionally high storm surge tide at 3.07pm made even worse due to the Thames Flood Barrier having been closed to protect parts of London from flooding.
"Luckily the wind was very light and the sea calm, so while the storm surge caused minor flooding at Bell Wharf in Old Leigh the exceptionally high tide only threatened to breach the sea wall defences along Chalkwell Promenade and volunteer Chalkwell Lifeguards on standby were able to stand down without being called into action."
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